Motion-tra nsmitting mechanism



Sept. 30 1924.

H'. G, ALLEN MOTION TRANSMITTING MECHANISM Filed 0 16, 1932 2 Sheets-Shea. l

Sept. 30. 1924. 1,510,128

H. G. ALLEN MOTION TR ANSMITTINGMECHANISM Filgd Oct. 16, 2'Sheets Shee1 2 Patented Sept. 30, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD G. ALLEN, 0F NIAGARA FALLS), NEW YORK. ASSIGNOR TO THE J. L, MOB- RISON COMPANY, INC, OF NIAGARA. FALLS, HE /V YORK, CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Application filed October 16, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HowAno G. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Niagara Falls, in the county of Niagara and State of New Yorr, have invented new and useful Improvements in Motion-Transmitting Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a motion trans mitting mechanism and more particularly to a mechanism which can be adjusted so that a part or the whole stroke of a member h aving a forward and backward movement can be imparted to another member capable of a similar movement.

It is the object'of this invention to provide a mechanism for this purpose which is simple and durable in construction. easy and reliable in operation and not liable to wear unduly or get out of order.-

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of one embodiment of-my invention for operating the ratchet feed mechanism. of a wire stitcher. Figures 2 and 3 are horizontal sections of the same, taken on the correspondingly numbered lines in Fig. 1. Figures 4, 5 and 6 are sectional views similar views similar to Fig. 1, showing different relative positions of the driving and driven bars and the coupling miember. Figures 7, 8 and 9 are face views of the holding member. driving member and driven member, respectively, with the coupling member mounted on the driven member.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The mechanism shown in the accompanying drawingscan be adapted to a. number of types of machines. It is here shown as applied. to a wire feeder for wire stitching machine, although it could be used on various other machines and tools, for example, as means for controlling the feed per stroke in a planer or a shaper. In general. it is adapted for use in any place where a movement is desired at a certain time in relation to another moving part which is used as the source of energy to produce the desired movement, for feeding, as noted above, or for analogous purposes.

The device will now be described and its action explained.

Serial No. 594,894.

The mechanism containing my invention is shown in the lower part of Fig. l and the remaining figures, and as here organized, the same is constructed as follows: i

1 represents the body or fran're work of the machine in which the device is used. 2 is a driving bar or sliding member guided in a way 40 on the frame and having a definite reciprocating motion which is always the same in amplitude and from which the feeding motion is derived. The driving bar or member 1 which may be reciprocated by any suitable means, for instance, a rotary cam 41 having a groove 42 which receives a roller or projection 43 on the lower or, rear end of the driving bar. The essential. feature of this motion transmitting mechanism is to pick out a certain desired part of the motion of this driving bar 2 and use it to operate whatever device desired and consists of means for intermittently connecting and disconnecting the mechanism to be operated with this bar 2. Therefore, when connected to this bar, the motion of the mechanism to be actuated will have all the characteristics of the motion of the driving bar 2.

The means of producing this intermittent connection and disconnection comprises a driven bar -3 arranged on one side of the driving bar 2, and extending to the driven mechanism and serving to operate it. The amplitude of the movement of the driven bar 3 must be varied to produce varying re sults by the driven mechanism. 4 is an ad justable holding bar or slide on that side of the bar 3 opposite to the bar 2. The holding bar is slidably arranged. lengthwise in a channel a l provided on the frame but can be locked securely in place anywhere between its limits by the screw 8 passing through a slot 45 in the frame and engaging its threaded end with the holding bar while its head bears against the outer side of said frame, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 441. In the driven bar 3 is a rectangular hole 34 through which a rolling coupling member 5, such as a cylindrical roller, can easily pass. The diameter of this roller 5 should be approximately twice the thickness of the driven bar 3, for a purpose which will be explained later.

In the opposing faces of the bars, driving 2, and holding 4:. between which the driven bar 3 lies, are notches, recesses or pockets 10 and 9, exactly alike. The lower edge of each Ill) of these notches is at right angles to "the face of the respective bar. but each companion upper-edge; inclined from the right angle by about 10. The'd'epth and width of these notches is such that when the roller 5 is plaeed'therein, it will project outside the driven bat an amountequal to the thickness of the driven bar 3, or substantiall't this extent.

On the opposing faces of the driving bar 2 and holding bar 4, are stops or tappets 6 and 7, respectively. These stops are so placed that they limit the motion of the driven bar '3 relatively to the holding bar and driving bar 2 in a backward direction and thus permit the hole 34 to register with the notches 10 and "9 so thatthe hole 34 in thedriven bar can be in line with or ahove the notch, 10 but never below 'itand in like manner the hole can never be below the notch 9 in the holding bar'l.

The'action .of't'hese members is as follows As shown in Fig. l, the'driving bar 2 is ,in "itsiextreme rearward or lower position. The upper position is shown by the location of the stop 6 andnotch 10 at 6 and 10 Now assume that the driving bar 2 is moved "forwardly orgnpwardly to "a position .where the notch 10 comes opposite the hole 34 in -thedriven bar 3, as shown Fig. 4:. At "this'instant, the stopfi on the driving bar 2. comes into, contact with the loweror rear end of the driven bar 3 and so tends to driveit upward. The efi'ect on the roller ,5 is; that when the driven bar 3 starts to moveupwar'dly relatively to the holding bar t. the inclined upper edge 1 20f the notch 9 in the latter foiicesthe roller 5 to the right out of this notchand into the notch 10 provided'in the drivingflbar 2. By the time the driven bar 3 has ,moved distance equal to "half the diameter of the roller, this. latter "had been shifted crosswise in the notch 3%. so that the leftside of the roller has been retractedfrom the notch Sand the right side has been projected into the notch 10, but still remains with "one-half its diameter within the opening 34c. By this means the driven baris uncoupled from the holding bar and coupled with the drivingbar. The parts are shown in this relation in Fig. 5, in which tlie driven bar 2 is atthe extreme upper end of its stroke.

As the driving ,bar 2 moves downwardly or backwardly; the {driven bar 3 must come with it, fortheroller 5 is pocketed half in each and cannot, move in any other .direction. 'VVhen:thefdriven bar 3 strikes the stop the holding member, however, the re cessyor notch?) inthei holding bar is presented to the opening 34 and by the action of the upper slanting 'edge ll'of the notch 10 the roller 5 lS1fO1C6d tO the left and so out of'the pocket 10 in the driving bar 2 and into the'pocket .9 of the holding bar, as shown in Fig. 6. This leaves the bar 2 free from the bar 3 from this position to the lower end of its stroke, as shown in Fig 1. The following up and down strokes are repetitions of the one just described.

In the operation of this motion transmitting mechanism the following characteristics are to be noted:

The driven bar 3 is always under control. that is, is either firmly attached or connected to the driving bar 2. shown in Fig. 5, and so that its motion has all the characteristics of the latter for this portion of the stroke; or, it is stationary and held so byvirtuc of being locked to the slide or holding bar .wh'ich is normally fixed as shown in Fig. 1. Thus the mechanism operated by the slide or bar 3 cannot be effected hyany outside influence other than the driving and holding: bars 2 and l.

The stroke of the driven bar 3 may heoi' any amplitude between nothing or zero and the stroke of the driven barQ. This stroke of the driven bar is regulated by the position of the holding bar 4 as will heapparent from the description above. Thus when the stop 7 is down to the positioirshown at 7 then the roller 5 cannot disconnectthedriven bar 3 from the driving bar 2. theretoer the stroke of. the bar 3 is the full stroke ol'" the driving bar 2. This would, hence. corrc spond to a condition. of max'iinuin feed of wire in a stitching machine. At the other extreme. it the stop 7 were located at T. or opposite the highest position of the stop (3. as indicated at (S on the driven bar 2. the motion of the driven bar 3 would be zero. because the roller 5 would never enter the notch 10 in the bar 2.

intermediate positions of the holding hair -I- will cause a reciprocating motion of the driven bar 3 in proportion to the motion of the driving her E2, as the distance which the bar 1- from its uppermostposition. to the distance the driving bar 2 moves while rccipro :ating.

The control oi the stroke of the ('lllVGlllliH 3 rests in the holding bar 4. which at all times is stationary. cvcept when being moved to change the stroke of the mechanism with which the same is associated.

Due to this construction. the following important advantages are. obtained In the iiarticular illustration here given. the driving and driven bars always move upwardly or forwardly in unison to the end of the upward or forward stroke of the driving bar. but the driving bar effects the last part of its downward or rearward stroke independently ot the drivcnbar. except when the holding bar is adjusted to enable the driven bar to move forward and backward with the driving bar during the maximum stroke ot the latter.

The stroke of the maclmnismwhicl is heing driven, such as thefeed mechanism of a. wire stitching machine, can be varied while the machine is in steady operation.

The control of the feed mechanism can be combined with the control of some other part of the machine, if desired or necessary. This is particularly important in wire stitching machines in which it is necessary to control the wire feed length and the cutting block position by one movement or ad justment. Obviously, the cutting off mechanism in a wire stitcher must be changed as the length of wire fed is changed, so as to always center the wire to form staples of equal leg length.

Aside from the ease of operation and convenience of adjustment of this motion transmitting mechanism, the same is further advantageous on account of the cheapness and durability of the mechanism. Moreover, all parts can be hardened, and ground to accurate dimensions afterwards". None of the operations depend on friction or springs and owing to its narrow dimensions it is possible to use the same where a compact and flexible design are important requisites.

Althoughthe invention is applicable for various uses the same is shown for example in Figs. 1 and 2, in connection with a wire feed mechanism of aflwire stitching machine, the essential elements of which are constructed and operated as follows:

On the upper end of the bar 3 is attached a rack 13 meshing with a ring gear 14 which is pivoted on a spider or ratchet disk 15. Around the periphery of this spider are notches 18 having bottom surfaces 81 at an angle to the radii of the spider. Of proper diameter to wedge in these pockets between their inclined bottom surfaces and the inner circumference of the ring 14 are rolling members. preferably rollers 16 which are held in contact with the two mentioned. surfaces by springs 17. This constitutes a roller or ball ratchet whose action and construction are familiar. Due to the intermittent reciprocating motion of the driven bar 3 and rack 13, an intermittent oscillating motion is imparted to the ring 1 1, and so through the ratchet described, the spider 15 receives an intermittent rotary motion.

On opposite sides of the spider 15 are plates19 and 20 projecting over the edge of the ring 14. which is slightly thinner than the spider. The spider and plates are rig idly. attached to a shaft 24 by means of a key 23. washer 21 and screw 22.

On the other end of the spindle 24 is a roller 25 attached by a key 28, washer 26 and screw 27. Normally in contact with the roller 25 isa roller 29 iournaled on the end of a stud 30 and held in place by a washer 31 and screw 82. These rollers are held in contact by a spring (not shown) which per mits them to open sufficiently to receive wire 33 or other material to be fed between the rolling surfaces. If desired, the rollers 25, 29 may be provided with intermeshingr gear wheels 91. 92. as shown in F When the mechanism is arranged as shown in Fig. 1, wire will be fed in the direction indicated. by the full line arrow 35 due to motion of the bar 2. It will be noted that the feeding is accomplished when the bar is being drawn down. Hence force to more the bar 3 is transmitted from the bar 2 through the roller 5 by virtue of the latter being in contact with the upper surface 11 of the notch. 10, which is slightly inclined to a right angle. This inclination produces an outward thrust on the roller against the face of the stationary holding bar or Slide 4 which is, although small, in proportion to the force to be overcome to operate the feed mechanism.

Should this roller appear to bear too heavily against the holding bar 4 it is possible in many cases to reverse the direction which the bars 2 and 3 move when feedinrzand so throw the feeding load between these two bars onto the stop block or pin 6 acting, as shown in this case, directly onthe bar 3. To accomplish this, the inclination of the bottoms of the pockets 18 in the spider 15 should be reversed. with the result that the wire would be fed in the direction indicated by the dotted arrow 36 in Fig. 1. In this case the thrust imparted to the bar 4: by the bar 2 through the inclined surface 11 of the pocket 10 would only be that required to retract the slide 3 and the ring 14, for the next feed stroke, and thus only a small percentage of the feeding load will. be directed against the holding bar. Such a reversal does not involve any vital change in the mechanism but only a rearrangement of parts. 1

Obviously, this mechanism may be organized so that the feed stroke is imparted to the feed mechanism during the lower por tion of the motion of the driving bar 2. rather than during the upper part as described. here, the mechanism being essentially the same in both instances.

A particular advantage of the motion translating mechanism as shown assembled with a rolling member ratchet is due to the fact that this ratchet iransmits in one direction of rotation exactly the angular displace ment delivered to it. Since any number of adjustments, and therefore any feed motion within the limits of the mechanism, can he obtained by. adjusting: the position of the bar or slide 4-; and, since the ratchet delivers to the feed rollers all motion imparted to it, any length of wire within certain limits. may be fed.

If the rolling member ratchet mechanism is replaced by some ratchet mechanism of oscillating motion is translated into rotary motion, each being intermittent, but without any undue noise or wear of the parts.

I claim as my invention:

1. A motion transmitting mechanism comprising a reciprocating driven member, a reciprocating driving member, a normally stationory holding member, and a coupling member mounted on said driven member and adapted to be shifted for coupling said driven member either with said (riving member or with said holding member.

2. motion transmitting mechanism comprising a driven reciprocating membenhaw ing an opening, a driving reciprocating member having a pocket facing the driven member, a normally fixed holding member having a pocket facing the driven member, and a coupling member mounted in the opening of the ,drivenmember and adapted to project partly either into the pocket of either said driving member or said holding member.

A motion transmitting, mechanism comprising a driven reciprocating member having an opening, a driving reciprocating member having a pocket facing the driven member, a normally fixed holding member having a pocltetlfacing the driven member, and a coupling member mounted in the opening of the driven member and adapted to project partly either into the pocket of either said driving member or said holding member, the rear side of each of said pock- 1 ets being arranged at right angles to the direction of movement of said driving and driven bars, and the front side of the same being arranged at an acute angle to thedirection of such movement.

4, A motion transmitting mechanism comprising a driven reciprocating member hav ing an opening, a driving reciprocating member havinga pocket facing the driven member, a normally fixed holding member having a pocket facing the driven member, and a coupling member mounted in the opening of the driven member and adapted to project partly either into the pocket of either said ,driving member or said holding memher, the rear side of each of said pockets being arranged at right angles to the direction of movement of said driving and driven bars, and the front side of the same being arranged at an acute angle to the direction of such movement and said driving member being provided with a stop adapted to engage the driven member during forward movement and the holding member being provided with a stop which is adapted to be engaged by said driven member to limit the backward movement of the latter.

5. A motion transmitting mechanism coup prising a driven reciprocating member having an opening, a driving reciprocating member having a pocket facin the driven member, a normally fixed holding member having a pocket facing the driven member, and a coupling member mounted in the 0 Joning of the driven member and adapter to project partly either into the pocket of either said driving member or said holding member, the rear side of each of said pockets being arranged at right angles to the direction of movement of said driving and driven bars, ,and the front side of the same being arranged at an acute angle to the direction of such movement and said driv ing mcmber being provided with a stop adapted to engage the driven member during its .forward movement and the holding member being provided with a stop which is adapted to be engaged by said driven member to limit the backward movement of the latter, and said .holding member being provided with means for adjusting the same in a direction lengthwise of the direction of movement of said driven member. i i i 6. A motion transmitting mechanism. comprising a longitudinally reciprocating driven bar provided with an opening extending transversely through the same, a longitudinally reciprocating driving bar arrim ed on one side of said driven bar and provided with a stop adapted to engage the rear end of the driven bar and also provided with a pocket which faces said driven bar and which has a bearing surface at its rearl'end arranged at right angles to the direction of movement of saidb'ars and a bearing surface at itsfront end which is inclined relatively to said direction of movement, :1 normally stationary but adjustable holdinglbar arranged on the opposite side ofsaid driven bar and provided with a stop adadted to be engager by the rear end of said driven bar and also provided with a )ocket which fares the driven bar and has abearing surfabe at its rear end which is arrangednt right ,angles to the direction of movement said bars and a bearing surface at its front end which is inclined to said direction of movement. and a coupling roller arranged in said opening of the driven bar and adapted to" be projected laterally therefrom into engagement with either of said pockets for coupling said driven bar with the/ driving bar or with said holding bar.

7. motion lilfll ls fillttlpg mechanism,

llO

comprising a longitudinally reciprocating driven bar provided with an opening extending transversely through the same, a longitudinally reciprocating driving bar arranged on one side of said driven bar and provided with a stop adapted to engage the rear end of the driven bar and also provided with a pocket which faces said driven bar and which has a bearing surface at its rear end arranged at right angles to the direction of movement of said bars and a bearing surface at its front end which is inclined relatively to said direction of movement, a normally stationary but adjustable holding bar arranged on the opposite side of said driven bar and provided with a stop adapted to be engaged by the rear end of said driven bar and also provided with a pocket which faces the driven bar and has a bearing surface at its rear end which is arranged at right angles to the direction of movement of said bars and a bearing surface at its front end which is inclined to said direction of movement, a coupling roller arranged in said opening of the driven bar and adapted to be projected laterally therefrom into engagement with either of said pockets for coupling said driven bar with the driving bar or with said holding bar, and means for adjusting said holding bar lengthwise.

8. A motion transmitting mechanism, comprising a longitudinally reciprocating driven bar provided with an opening extending transversely through the same, a longitudinally reciprocating driving bar arranged on one side of said driven bar and provided with a stop adapted to engage the rear end of the driven bar and also provided with a pocket which faces said driven bar and which has a bearing surface at its rear end arranged at right angles to the direction of movement of said bars and a bearing surface at its front end which is inclined relatively to said direction of movement, a normally stationary but adjustable holding bar arranged on the opposite side of said driven bar and rovided with a stop adapted to be engaged y the rear end of said driven bar and also provided with a pocket which faces the driven bar and has a bearing surface at its rear end which is arranged at right angles to the direction of movement of said bars and a bearing surface at its front end which is inclined to said direction of movement, a coupling roller arranged in said opening of the driven bar and adapted to be projected laterally therefrom into engagement with either of said pockets for coupling said driven bar with the driving bar or with said holding bar, and means for adjusting said holding bar lengthwise, comprising a support having a guideway for said holding bar and a longitudinal slot and a clamping screw arranged in said slot and engaging its thread with said holding bar and its head with said support.

9. A motion transmitting mechanism, comprising a longitudinally reciprocating driven bar provided with an opening extend ing transversely through the same, a longitudinally reciprocating driving bar arranged on one side of said driven bar and provided with a stop adapted to engage the rear end of the driven bar and also provided with a pocket which faces said driven bar and which has a bearing surface at its rear end arranged at right angles to the direction of movement of said bars and a bearing surface at its front end which is inclined relatively to said direction of movement, a normally stationary but adjustable holding bar arranged on the opposite side of said driven bar and provided with a stop adapted to be engaged by the rear end of said driven bar and also provided with a pocket which faces the driven bar and has a. bearing surface at its rear end which is arranged at right angles to the direction of movement of said bars and a bearing surface at its front end which is inclined to said direction of movement, a coupling roller arranged in said opening of the driven bar and adapted to be projected laterally therefrom into engagement with either of said pockets for coupling said driven bar with th driving bar or with said holding bar, and a support upon which said bars are guided and to which said holding bar is secured'soas tobe capable of longitudinal adjustment.

HOWARD G. ALLEN. 

